Letter from the president.

The year 2016 will be remembered as the most successful growth year for the corporation. Our total accredited-entity count is pushing the 900 mark with several new applications pending. This remarkable achievement would not have happened without the whole hearted support of our staff, contract assessors and evaluators. First and foremost, I want to thank our loyal clients, contractors and staff for going well above the call of duty to help us reach this very important milestone. Read more

IAS participates in IAF-ILAC joint annual meetings.

The International Accreditation Service attended the joint annual meetings for the International Accreditation Forum (IAF) and International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation (ILAC), Oct. 28 through Nov. 4, in New Delhi, India. Attending the meeting from IAS were Senior Vice President Raj Nathan, Director of Conformity Assessment Accreditation Services Dr. George Anastasopoulos, and Accreditation Manager Karthik Easwar. Accreditation bodies worldwide convened in these meetings to address many of the actions around the implementation of the recently adopted IAF and ILAC strategic plans and reported on progress to the memberships. The meetings further strengthened the global accreditation framework and support harmonization of conformity assessment activities across the world to facilitate cross border movement of goods and services.

The new ISO Standard 17025 — What to expect.

Read about the changes that will be in the newest version of ISO/IEC 17025, the single most important standard for calibration and testing laboratories around the world, with more than 50,000 laboratories accredited globally. IAS Director of Conformity Assessment Accreditation Services Dr. George Anastasopoulos wrote this article that appeared in the July 2016 issue of Cal Lab Magazine.

Pictured (left-right): Chief Building Inspector Doug Lichnovsky, IAS President Chuck Ramani, and Assistant Building Official Jason Smith.

McKinney, Texas, Building Inspections Department recognized for accreditation.

The McKinney Building Inspection Department was recognized at the ICC Annual Conference during the Global Connections Day luncheon for achieving IAS Building Department Accreditation. At the luncheon to represent McKinney was Assistant Building Official Jason Smith and Chief Building Inspector Doug Lichnovsky with the McKinney Texas Building Inspections Department.

The IAS Building Department Accreditation Program signifies that the department operates under the highest professional and technical standards and provides a high standard of public safety and services to the community.

Pictured (left-right): Senior Deputy Fire Chief Girard Page, Kelly Fernandez, IAS President Chuck Ramani, and Sam Palmer.

Clark County, Nev., Department of Building & Fire Prevention Bureau recognized for accreditation.

Clark County Department of Building & Fire Prevention Bureau was recognized at the ICC Annual Conference in Kansas City, Mo., during the Global Connections Day luncheon for achieving IAS Fire Prevention Life Safety Department Accreditation. Clark County is the first municipal department in Nevada to achieve this accreditation from IAS. Acting Director Sam Palmer and Senior Deputy Fire Chief Girard Page of the Clark County Department of Building & Fire Prevention Bureau represented the department during the recognition ceremony.

IAS Fire Prevention Life Safety Department accreditation recognizes fire prevention and life safety departments that have demonstrated technical competence, efficiency and effectiveness, based on compliance with national standards and best practices.

New video highlights Metal Building Assembler Inspection Program accreditation.

A new video from IAS provides information about the IAS Metal Building Assembler Inspection Program accreditation, which establishes a benchmark for companies qualified to assemble and erect metal buildings, such as warehouses and churches, schools and airplane hangars. This accreditation program was developed with input from industry leaders, including the Metal Building Contractor and Erectors Association, Metal Building Manufacturers Association, and Ironworker Management Progressive Action Cooperative Trust. The accreditation is based on IAS AC478, the IAS Accreditation Criteria for Inspection Practices for Metal Building Assemblers.

To achieve accreditation to AC478, companies must demonstrate that they have the personnel, organization, experience, management procedures and competence to assemble and erect metal building systems in accordance with specified requirements and in accordance with the International Building Code. IAS-accredited assemblers are required to operate under a documented management system that includes a safety and training program and periodic jobsite inspections to verify continued compliance with the criteria. The periodic jobsite inspections are conducted by IAS-accredited inspection agencies.

IAS Marketing Manager Greg West (center standing) with Foundation FSSC 22000 executives at the FSSC Harmonization Conference, Oct. 5-6, in Mexico City.

IAS recognized by FSSC 22000 to provide accreditation in food industry.

The Foundation FSSC 22000, based in the Netherlands, has recognized IAS to provide accreditation of certification bodies seeking to demonstrate compliance with the requirements of the FSSC 22000 Food Safety Management System scheme and ISO/IEC Standard 17021-1. In order to ensure that the accreditation bodies operate to a high standard of competence and probity, including the application of standards in a consistent and equivalent manner, the Foundation FSSC 22000 requires accreditation bodies meet the requirements of ISO/IEC 17011, be a member of the International Accreditation Forum (IAF) and a signatory to the IAF Management System 17021-1 Multilateral Recognition Arrangement.

The FSSC 22000 Food Safety System Certification provides a framework for effectively managing an organization's food safety responsibilities. FSSC 22000 is fully recognized by the Global Food Safety Initiative and is based on existing ISO Standards. It demonstrates that accredited-certified companies have a robust Food Safety Management System in place meeting the requirements of regulators, food business clients and consumers. Already, 13,000+ organizations in over 140 countries have achieved FSSC 22000 certification. With currently 100+ Licensed Certification Bodies and over 1,500 auditors worldwide, the FSSC mission is to ensure consumer trust in the supply of safe food and drinks. Certification bodies, users of certified services and consumers that would like more information about accreditation under the FSSC 22000, Food Safety Management System (FSMS) and ISO/IEC Standard 17021-1 may contact IAS at iasinfo@iasonline.org or visit www.iasonline.org/.

IAS to celebrate 10th anniversary for Metal Building Systems Accreditation.

In 2017, the International Accreditation Service will celebrate the 10-year anniversary of the AC472 Accreditation Program, which was created to verify the competence companies that design and manufacturer metal building systems.

Education program on accreditation for inspection of metal building assemblers presented at MetalCon.

IAS Program Manager Sandi McCracken and Metal Building Contractors and Erectors Association Consultant Jackie Meiluta presented an education session about the IAS Accreditation Program for Inspection of Metal Building Assemblers at MetalCon, Oct. 28, in Baltimore, Md. The presentation provided information about AC478, the IAS accreditation criteria used in the accreditation process to assess applicants for accreditation. The accreditation program was created to establish a benchmark for companies qualified to assemble and erect metal buildings using an internal inspection process with periodic oversight to recognize and accredit competent metal building assemblers.

Upcoming training from IAS.

The IAS training schedule of courses is posted on the IAS website. Courses include training on ISO Standards 17020, 17021, 17024, 17025, 31000, 22000, and Special Inspection Agency Accreditation. Receive a 30-percent discount for early registrations.

Look for the IAS accreditation mark.

When you see the IAS Accreditation mark associated with a company or organization, you know IAS has evaluated it for competence and quality.

Seeking contract technical assessors and experts.

IAS is seeking contract technical assessors and experts with experience in assessing the management and technical processes of laboratories, inspection agencies, building departments and product certification agencies.

Let us know what you are thinking.

IAS strives to continually improve our services and solicits feedback, positive or negative, which we will use to provide better service to our clients and stakeholders. Visit the Contact Us page of the IAS website to share your comments.

IAS programs